By Paul Leach
Chattanooga Times Free Press
ETOWAH, Tenn. — The field has been narrowed to four applicants for Etowah’s city manager, and a new police chief soon will be in the works as well.
City Human Resources Director Margaret Cheek said a discussion of the candidates is on the agenda for the city commission meeting scheduled for tonight.
Interim City Manager John Solsbee said city commissioners recently interviewed four applicants out of 25 candidates for the city manager position. He said he was not at liberty to reveal their names or other details yet.
“I expect that will be on the agenda in the next commission meeting,” said Solsbee, who served as city manager for nearly 12 years and became interim manager after Andy Hyatt resigned late last year.
But Cheek confirmed the names of the four applicants vying for city manager: Larry Schiller and Matthew Gravely, both of Etowah; Shane Burris of Lake City, Tenn.; and Michael Willis of Cleveland, Tenn.
She said the Etowah City Commission began its city manager search this fall and that UT’s Municipal Technical Advisory Service offered recommendations upon their review of applicant submissions.
“The commissioners, of course, were still free to choose whomever they wanted,” said Cheek.
In the meantime, Police Chief Phil Robinette has submitted his resignation, effective Dec. 31.
When asked why he’s leaving, Robinette said, “I’ve accepted a position somewhere else.”
Cheek said Robinette cited no other reason in his resignation letter.
Solsbee said he would not appoint an interim police chief until the end of the year, closer to Robinette’s resignation date. If the commission hired a city manager before then, he said, the new person might appoint a full-time chief instead of an interim.
Mayor Burke Garwood could not be reached for comment.
Copyright 2010 Chattanooga Publishing Company